Group + Team Dynamics Flashcards
Group
a collection of people who both share similar goals and interact with one another
e.g. basketball team, running club etc..
Group dynamics
The processes within a group + between groups
- Important for a team to act as a cohesive group if they want to achieve their goal
Example of when a team worked well together and didn’t work well together
- different goals = cause arguments, tension, friction in group dynamic
Model of group development
The ‘Forming-Storming-Norming-Performing’ model of group formation
4 stages
Stage 1
Forming:
- high dependence on leader for guidance = needs to give strong direction
- group members start to get to know one another = may be on their best behaviour to make a good first impression
- individual roles are unclear
- very little agreement in the aims of the team
Stage 2
Stage 2: storming
- group decisions are difficult
- conflict can occur as team members jostle to establish themselves in the group
- cliques can firm and there may be power struggles
- clearer focus for the team, despite uncertainties
- needs to be an environment for compromise
- leader has a more advisory or coaching role
HARDEST STAGE TO PROGRESS FROM + IF THEY FAIL AT THIS STAGE THEY WON’T LAST
Stage 3
Stage 3: Norming
- more agreement/ consensus of opinion in team
- working towards a common goal
- roles and responsibilities are accepted
- respect for the leader + leadership more likely to be shared
- stronger sense of community + unity
- teams are more social + friendly with each other
Stage 4
Stage 4: Performing
- team has more strategies, a clear vision and aim
- team doesn’t need to be instructed by leader
- trusted to work together to achieve common goals
- disagreements occur but are resolved within the team
- team members might ask for assistance from the leader with personal + interpersonal issues
- strong sense of team cohesion
Cohesion
- used when describing group dynamics
- Concerns the motivation which attracts individuals to the group + the resistance of those members to the group breaking up
Festinger (1963) states that cohesiveness is ‘the total field of forces which act on members to remain in the group’
2 dimensions in cohesion
- group integration = how the individual members of the group feel about the group as a whole
- individual attraction to the group = how attracted the individuals are to the group
2 dimensions either social motivation or task motivation = team are cohesive if they all have same type motivation
Steiner’s Model of Group Effectiveness
- groups can include the best performers but nor actually perform well as a team
- model outlines the relationship between the individuals in a group + group performance
Actual productivity = Potential Productivity - losses due to faulty processes
Potential productivity = best possible performance elf the group, taking into account the resources available + abilities of the individual members
- e.g. non-league team losing 4-0 to Chelsea might well be reaching their potential but not winning due to limited resources
- Losses due to faule resources = reduce team cohesion + are mainly causes by 2 factors:
- coordination problems = poor timing, communication, tactics of leadership
E.g. a positional error, ill-timed move in set plays - motivational problems = differences in individual levels of motivation
E.g. hockey team, some play go win, some play to stay fit, some to socialise
The RingelMann effect + social loafing
Ringelmann effect explains that as the group size increases, the average individual performance within that group decreases = causes an overall decrease in performance e.g. tug of war study
Bigger the team, the more likely that the Rjnglemann effect/ coordination losses are likely to occur
E.g. the following team makers can lift 50kg each but when they work together, they can only lift 175kg = 25kg loss due to coordination or motivation loss
E.g. in football if someone’s taking a corner, players may not move to receive the ball as they think there are many other players nearby that can get the ball
Social loafing
When some individuals in a group lose motivation, apparently caused by the individual losing identity when loaded in a group
Individual efforts may not be recognised by those who are spectating or by those taking part
Causes of social loafing
- an individual doesn’t feel others are trying as hard
- player doesn’t feel that their efforts are valued, appreciated or being watched
- they perceive the task to be too hard
- they are lacking in confidence + therefore withdraw to protect self esteem
- of the player has had a bad experience in the past or failed at the task before
Methods to overcome social loafing
- use of individual statistics (tackle count in rugby, passes, shots on target in football etc..)
- individual feedback
- Peer support and encouragement = known as social support
- set individual goals
- increase social interactions within the group (get on well with each other/ more cohesive)
